Fairbanks Airport Ramp Agent Charged With Theft After Sting

An Alaska Airlines ramp agent has been accused of stealing from suitcases at Fairbanks International Airport after he was allegedly caught in a sting operation.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Aug 6, 2011 at 8:59 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Aug 6, 2011 at 8:59 PM AKDT

FAIRBANKS — An Alaska Airlines ramp agent has been accused of stealing from suitcases at Fairbanks International Airport after he was allegedly caught in a sting operation.

Fairbanks resident Robert Norman Webb Jr., 37, is charged with third-degree theft. Before the sting operation, he allegedly took a switchblade knife from a passenger’s checked bag

In the Dec. 22 sting operation, Airport Police and corporate security planted two bait suitcases with desirable electronics on a flight leaving Fairbanks. Three ramp agents were detained and questioned after loading was completed. Webb had one iPod from one of the bait suitcases. He told police he saw it on the floor and picked it up for safekeeping. The investigators said the iPod was securely closed in the bait suitcase.

Investigators could not find a second iPod that also went missing from a bait suitcase, according to the criminal complaint.

A search warrant was served on Webb’s home, where police reported finding a switchblade knife that matched the description of one reported missing from a checked suitcase in November. The knife is valued at $260. The knife was sent to the State Crime Lab for fingerprint analysis.

Police said they found two DVDs hidden in the legs of the conference room table in the room where Webb was interviewed. Webb told police he hid the DVDs, but said he brought them from home and did not steal them. He said he would provide receipts but did not, police said.

The criminal charge was filed against Webb on July 26. He has no prior criminal record in the state of Alaska.

Contact staff writer Sam Friedman at 459-7545.

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Bags said on Monday, Aug 8 at 5:03 PM

AKair will cover this up. Just the type of people they are.

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otwist said on Sunday, Aug 7 at 8:03 PM

This is what we pay $25 per pag for, go figure.

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